Halloween Horror Nights 26 Discussion

[Mad Dog]

One component of HHN. They must make a ton on alcohol sales. That probably partially counterbalances the multiple days ticket price. With everything considered, I would think the per guest spending means more than any other metric. And for that you'd have to factor in tickets, alcohol, food, merchandise,hotel. It would be interesting to see those figures, but the per event breakdown is probably not public.

 

[Cole]

well obviously the Disney parties are technically an event, I meant the word event as something huge you can't miss. When the parties happen, it's just a little part of the week in theme park news. When HHN happens, absolutely nothing matters at all besides HHN. People around the globe make trips dedicated to it, social media is filled with it, constant reviews, repeat visits from fans, it's a phenomenon from the day one to the final day. I'm not discounting the party events because they're obviously very successful and in my opinion, they're the best way to visit MK. They're just on the same level as something like Mardi Gras content wise. Good fun but nothing too expansive or immersive as 9 huge attractions opening every single year

 

[IzzyB]

One component of HHN. They must make a ton on alcohol sales. That probably partially counterbalances the multiple days ticket price. With everything considered, I would think the per guest spending means more than any other metric. And for that you'd have to factor in tickets, alcohol, food, merchandise,hotel. It would be interesting to see those figures, but the per event breakdown is probably not public.

Agreed. HHN for sure gets people to empty their pocketbooks. I have no clue what extra stuff Disney has that costs money, but I will agree the merch/food sales at HHN would be higher than than at any of the Mickey events. The event Disney has that makes a ton of money on food is F&W for sure. They make a killing on food during that event.

well obviously the Disney parties are technically an event, I meant the word event as something huge you can't miss. When the parties happen, it's just a little part of the week in theme park news. When HHN happens, absolutely nothing matters at all besides HHN. People around the globe make trips dedicated to it, social media is filled with it, constant reviews, repeat visits from fans, it's a phenomenon from the day one to the final day. I'm not discounting the party events because they're obviously very successful and in my opinion, they're the best way to visit MK. They're just on the same level as something like Mardi Gras content wise. Good fun but nothing too expansive or immersive as 9 huge attractions opening every single year

My thing is that in the Disney fan world these events do get covered in social media. They just don't reach the masses in the way HHN does. But there are people out there that consider the Mickey halloween event a can't miss event. Do I think that? Obviously no. Heck I don't make it to HHN every year and I have never gone to any of the special paid Disney events. But when I was there on a Mickey night after 4 PM they started coming in and talking to those people, some of them go every year and plan their costumes and everything. So there is a fan base that loves those things.

 

[JungleSkip]

Well that is not a fair comparison at all. You are talking about a free event that runs for a month and half every day vs. a paid event that runs only select nights. That would be like if Mardi Gras ran every night for a month and half and you saying it brought in more people in attendance than HHN.

:saywhat:

 

[MrRoamer]

I still kinda feel like HHN and MNSS are comparing apples and oranges. Even though they are a hard ticket limited time event, Universal is basically transformed into a totally different park. I think people like Teebin are a very good example of this. Teebin I would assume has quite a bit of appreciation for Universal but wouldn't step foot in it during HHN (Please correct me if I'm wrong here Teebin). If we had some of the overlays that Disneyland does, I think the comparison could be closer.

If I had to describe the difference to someone with no knowledge.
I would compare MNSS to a special Halloween Party you can dress up to, see celebrities that don't come out much, and get more exclusive access to the MK.
HHN I would describe as a totally different theme park that focuses on Haunted Houses and happens to have some world class rides.

 

[Mad Dog]

I still kinda feel like HHN and MNSS are comparing apples and oranges. Even though they are a hard ticket limited time event, Universal is basically transformed into a totally different park. I think people like Teebin are a very good example of this. Teebin I would assume has quite a bit of appreciation for Universal but wouldn't step foot in it during HHN (Please correct me if I'm wrong here Teebin). If we had some of the overlays that Disneyland does, I think the comparison could be closer.

If I had to describe the difference to someone with no knowledge.
I would compare MNSS to a special Halloween Party you can dress up to, see celebrities that don't come out much, and get more exclusive access to the MK.
HHN I would describe as a totally different theme park that focuses on Haunted Houses and happens to have some world class rides.

You make a lot of good points. I believe you're correct on Teebin and I'm not that far off that. I gave it a try a couple of years ago. It was way better than my expectations and I enjoyed it, though I never did get close to a scare, but that's probably more due to my background. And yes, it's a whole different atmosphere and kind of an alternate world created. I'm not one that would do it every year, but once every three works. So, I'm kind of from that group you're taking about, but the event is good enough to draw me in occasionally. The job Universal does is above tremendous. I once went to our park's (Kennywood) horror night and it was like a play put on by second graders in comparison to Universal Orlando. And Kennywood does great business during the autumn with that horror nights theme. So, you horror fan people in Orlando have a lot to be thankful for, because The Universal HHN is the pinnacle of the business by far.

 

[IzzyB]

I still kinda feel like HHN and MNSS are comparing apples and oranges. Even though they are a hard ticket limited time event, Universal is basically transformed into a totally different park. I think people like Teebin are a very good example of this. Teebin I would assume has quite a bit of appreciation for Universal but wouldn't step foot in it during HHN (Please correct me if I'm wrong here Teebin). If we had some of the overlays that Disneyland does, I think the comparison could be closer.

If I had to describe the difference to someone with no knowledge.
I would compare MNSS to a special Halloween Party you can dress up to, see celebrities that don't come out much, and get more exclusive access to the MK.
HHN I would describe as a totally different theme park that focuses on Haunted Houses and happens to have some world class rides.

Oh I agree, it is apples to oranges. I was just saying it is an Event and it has its fan base. The way Cole was talking he was saying you can't even call it an event. I was also saying the reason each park doesn't do what the other park does is because most likely they would fail at it as it would not appeal to their particular fan base. They are both popular events.

 

[Clive]

I didn't take it, so I'm not bound by a confidentiality agreement, but from what I've been told by others not as clear on the first two rules of Fight Club, it suggests a fundamental re-thinking of the HHN "season pass" structure is under consideration. Obviously no guarantee any of it will come to fruition, but it suggests The Powers that Be recognize $100 for 20+ nights is no longer sustainable.

Oh..... you mean that thing I've been saying for several years and have been laughed at for suggesting? (Not directed at you of course, or even this board. I've just gotten a lot of flack for suggesting FFP's lifespan, in its current form, is more limited than most anticipate.)

 

[s8film40]

Oh..... you mean that thing I've been saying for several years and have been laughed at for suggesting? (Not directed at you of course, or even this board. I've just gotten a lot of flack for suggesting FFP's lifespan, in its current form, is more limited than most anticipate.)

It's not impossible, but the only way we'll ever see the FFP change is if food & beverage sales significantly decline. As it stands now HHN is a huge moneymaker because of guest spending. The more people they pack in the more money they make.

 

[Legacy]

Except a lot of FFP people intentionally avoid spending a great deal of extra money. They're not interested in getting drunk, or buying a blinky cup every night, or a t-shirt every night. They go, do houses, watch scarezones, do more houses, and leave. I'd suspect the FFP isn't as profitable as it appears at first glance.

Believe it or not, you can go an entire night at HHN for just the cost of admission. And if enough people do that enough nights, the FFP runs at a loss.

 

[Clive]

It's not impossible, but the only way we'll ever see the FFP change is if food & beverage sales significantly decline. As it stands now HHN is a huge moneymaker because of guest spending. The more people they pack in the more money they make.

And that's why they're doing surveys suggesting major changes? It isn't just an attendance game, people. If they can fill Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with single-visit guests (who pay for higher priced tickets per night and almost certainly buy more in food/merch), they will. (Disclaimer: haven't taken the survey yet.)

 

[Teebin]

gosh, that is so odd that you guys got so much rain today. so much for the "dry" season.

 

[Mad Dog]

gosh, that is so odd that you guys got so much rain today. so much for the "dry" season.

I think their weather has been as crummy as ours for a good bit of January, just no snow. One reason I never go down there in Jan./Feb.. My GF's sister, who lives near Orlando, has been bitching about the weather all month.

 

[Teebin]

I think their weather has been as crummy as ours for a good bit of January, just no snow. One reason I never go down there in Jan./Feb.. My GF's sister, who lives near Orlando, has been bitching about the weather all month.

Ridiculous. Floridians complain that 72 in the sun is cold. I always found it to be delightful weather. Today was just a moisturizer I guess. Humidity probably hit 5% above normal.

 

[s8film40]

Except a lot of FFP people intentionally avoid spending a great deal of extra money. They're not interested in getting drunk, or buying a blinky cup every night, or a t-shirt every night. They go, do houses, watch scarezones, do more houses, and leave. I'd suspect the FFP isn't as profitable as it appears at first glance.

Believe it or not, you can go an entire night at HHN for just the cost of admission. And if enough people do that enough nights, the FFP runs at a loss.

I typically spend as many nights as possible at HHN. I try to minimize how much I spend as over the course of multiple nights things add up pretty fast. Of course I usually spend a few nights where I kind of try to be a little looser with my budget and enjoy myself.

That being said this theory that FFP people are going in doing the houses and scare zones and leaving without spending anything is just absolutely false. I'm sure there are a few who manage this, but I can say from my experience it's virtually impossible to go to HHN and not spend money. Over the course of the evening your going to get thirsty and hungry and HHN offers plenty of temptations. It's just human nature most of us are accustomed to eating lunch mid day and dinner in the evening the timing of HHN doesn't help if your trying to get by without spending money.

By the way if this theory that FFP guests don't spend was true it would also apply to AP holders in terms of the park in general and I don't see AP's going away anytime soon either.

And that's why they're doing surveys suggesting major changes? It isn't just an attendance game, people. If they can fill Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with single-visit guests (who pay for higher priced tickets per night and almost certainly buy more in food/merch), they will. (Disclaimer: haven't taken the survey yet.)

They do the same survey every year. They're trying to find the right balance. They want to find out at what price point someone who is planning to go just one night would decide to spend more and go multiple nights. Most people aren't going to pay to go more than one or two nights, Universal wants people to come back and spend money as much as possible.

 

[Brian G.]

I typically spend as many nights as possible at HHN. I try to minimize how much I spend as over the course of multiple nights things add up pretty fast. Of course I usually spend a few nights where I kind of try to be a little looser with my budget and enjoy myself.

That being said this theory that FFP people are going in doing the houses and scare zones and leaving without spending anything is just absolutely false. I'm sure there are a few who manage this, but I can say from my experience it's virtually impossible to go to HHN and not spend money. Over the course of the evening your going to get thirsty and hungry and HHN offers plenty of temptations. It's just human nature most of us are accustomed to eating lunch mid day and dinner in the evening the timing of HHN doesn't help if your trying to get by without spending money.

He didn't say they don't spend money... just that they are not inclined to spend a lot - which is very accurate. AP's are different because they can attend any time for 365 days. With HHN, they are going to get as much as they can get for the 20-25 nights their pass allows. Usually, that means they are getting their house fix and bailing before the event closes up and they get caught in the mass exodus to the garage.

 

[MrRoamer]

I know that my friends and family drop a significant amount of money during HHN. Has anyone figured out what the approximate ratios are for FFP/FFP+ passes to single day passes? Last year it seemed like Sundays were the busiest days of the season and that could have been due to a number of factors: weekend-ish day, FFP, cheapest ticket of the week.

 

[s8film40]

He didn't say they don't spend money... just that they are not inclined to spend a lot - which is very accurate. AP's are different because they can attend any time for 365 days. With HHN, they are going to get as much as they can get for the 20-25 nights their pass allows. Usually, that means they are getting their house fix and bailing before the event closes up and they get caught in the mass exodus to the garage.

Guests going for only one night aren't necessarily inclined to spend a lot either. In fact the younger crowd who view HHN as more of a party than a theme park event often pre game and might not spend any money at all. I think Universals approach is if someone isn't necessarily willing to spend the money for an additional night as they feel they wouldn't get enough value to justify purchasing another ticket but would be willing to go another night which in turn could create additional spending opportunities then they don't want to just leave that money on the table.

Universal is in this to make money. While there obviously aren't numbers out there it is very well known internally at Universal that HHN is responsible for HUGE amounts of guest spending.

This discussion seems to come up every year and every year FFP comes back with its usual price bump. I think if anything we're more likely to see the one day ticket go away than the FFP, it's here to stay for a very long time.

 

[s8film40]

I know that my friends and family drop a significant amount of money during HHN. Has anyone figured out what the approximate ratios are for FFP/FFP+ passes to single day passes? Last year it seemed like Sundays were the busiest days of the season and that could have been due to a number of factors: weekend-ish day, FFP, cheapest ticket of the week.

I think it could be the Saturday pricing was a little too high last year.

It's also worth noting quite a few people buy FFP and only go 2 or 3 nights. Not everyone goes 10-20 times over the event.

 

[IzzyB]

Ridiculous. Floridians complain that 72 in the sun is cold. I always found it to be delightful weather. Today was just a moisturizer I guess. Humidity probably hit 5% above normal.

I love 72, I complain about the 50s and low 60s we had. Then it was nice for 2 days last week (thurs and fri) then the weekend comes and we get 50 with 25 MPH wind. Trust me, no one I have talked to has been mad at 72, we would love 72 Of course the two days this week we had 70s it rained all day, so that kind of sucked. But I am loving this weekend weather. 71 and 75 and no rain. So I am no longer complaining

It is a pretty known fact that AP holders in general spend less money per visit. I imagine that holds true for FFP holders and HHN.